Flimmer Navy Drone Flies And Swims

Flimmer is the US Navy's flying, swimming drone; it is designed to provide a flying emplacement of a undersea drone or sensor.

(Flimmer! video)

NRL is merging two separate research areas — unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) and unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) — to significantly improve tactical availability of UUVs in time critical situations. Common across the services, autonomous vehicles are being seen as an effective projection of force, both above and below the water’s surface. Unlike an air-deployed Sonobuoy, ongoing research into novel bio-inspired UUV finned propulsion has potential benefits for autonomous motion beyond the insertion point. This combination of an airplane mode for UUV insertion is the thrust of the Flimmer program.

Science fiction fans (and small boys of the 1960's - but I repeat myself) recall the Flying Sub from the excellent Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea television show: